Bright Blessings, Witches and Witchlets! This is another installment in our Rune series where we’re delving into the Runes of the Elder Furthak. With each post, we’ll go over the meaning and interpretation of each focused Rune and show what each one looks like. Let us begin.
WHAT ARE RUNES?
Runes are the letters in a set of related alphabets known as runic alphabets. Runes were used to write various Germanic languages before the adoption of the Latin alphabet and for specialized purposes thereafter. In addition to representing a sound value (a phoneme), runes can be used to represent the concepts after which they are named (ideographs).
SOURCE
WHERE DO THEY COME FROM?
Runes have been found in places that hold root in Germanic-speaking countries like Iceland, Scandinavia, parts of England and Central Europe, Constantinople and anywhere the Vikings journeyed.
WHEN WAS THE RUNIC ALPHABET USED?
AD 150 is the earliest date that runic inscriptions have been recorded. With time, the Latin alphabet replaced these characters as those who utilized runes were subjected to the Christian Reformation. In Central Europe, this happened around AD 700 and in northern Europe, AD 1100.
USING RUNES FOR DIVINATION
Interestingly enough, using runes for divination is NOT an ancient practice used by the Vikings. There is no evidence to support this commonly-held belief. The closest thing we do have are a few Icelandic magickal texts that use runic symbology. Other than that, the utilization of runes for divination didn’t come about until the 17th century.
While runes may not have been used by the Vikings, this doesn’t mean this system of divination isn’t a viable one. I know plenty of witches – including myself – who cast runes and consult the messages found from the Divine.
THE JERA RUNE
Today’s rune is JERA and it is pronounced ‘YEHR-ah’. The literal interpretation of this rune is ‘Year’. The esoteric interpretation is ‘harvest’.
WHAT DOES THE JERA RUNE LOOK LIKE?
It looks like the lesser-than and greater-than signs facing each other and almost locked into one another.
JERA KEYWORDS:
- Harvest
- Reward
- Peace
- Patience
- Cycles
- Progress
- Reward
When JERA makes an appearance in a divination cast, it can signal:
- Abundance
- Tranquility
- Calm
- Perfect Timing
- Bad Timing
- Regression
- Bickering
- Poverty
The JERA rune is said to govern prosperity and peace. Aligning with harvests, JERA commands the land’s fertility. Other things that follows JERA’s suit include the initiation of change, cycles of life, and bringing forth material manifestations.
Having the JERA rune show up in a casting is a sign to pay attention to the natural ebbs and flows of life itself. Change associated with JERA is not instant and cannot be hurried. Learning how to pace yourself and make small changes is what JERA is all about.
IN CONCLUSION…
I hope you’ve enjoyed this installment of the Rune Series! The aim is to offer an introduction to each rune to give an idea of what they all mean and to encourage new casters to try their hand at this divinatory practice. Do you cast runes? Are you inspired to start? Let me know in the comments and, as always, Bright Blessings and Happy Crafting!